2-Hour RIB Boat Whale Watching Tour from Reykjavik

A 12-meter RIB boat gives this whale tour its special character. It is fast enough to reach Faxaflói Bay’s feeding grounds quickly, yet small enough for a group of no more than 12 people. The ride itself feels like part wildlife trip, part sea adventure, with Esja mountain and Reykjavik’s coastline in view.

I like the clean, well-kept safety gear and the suspension seats, which take some sting out of the boat’s bumps. I also like the free return option if you see no wildlife. The main catch is simple: this is a fast, open-water ride, and rough seas can make it hard on your back or joints.

Key points to know before booking

• A fast route to the feeding grounds: The RIB can cover open water quickly, giving you more time to search for whales.
• Small group of up to 12: You get a more personal setting than on a large whale-watching vessel.
• Common sightings: The search focuses on humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises.
• Akurey in summer: When puffins are nesting in Iceland, the boat stops near this popular puffin island.
• Full cold-weather kit included: Warm overalls, life jackets, gloves, goggles, and safety equipment are supplied.
• A genuinely bumpy ride: The boat can be thrilling in calm water and rough in rough water, so physical comfort matters.

Why this RIB tour feels different from a standard whale cruise

Most whale tours ask you to settle into a larger boat and wait for the animals to come into view. This outing takes a different approach. You sit low in a compact RIB, feel the boat accelerate across the bay, and spend less time simply making your way out to the search area.

That speed matters in a two-hour tour. Faxaflói Bay is broad, and whales are wild animals, not timed attractions. A quick boat can reach likely feeding grounds sooner and move between sightings more efficiently. The captain can also reposition the boat when a whale surfaces or dolphins appear nearby.

The trade-off is comfort. A large vessel usually gives you more room to walk around and a steadier ride. The RIB offers more movement, spray, wind, and direct contact with the sea. I would choose it for excitement and a small-group feel, not for a gentle cruise.

The boat is a brand-new, custom-built 12-meter RIB with shock-absorbing seats. Those seats are an important feature, but they do not turn the trip into a smooth ferry ride. Several parts of the bay can be bouncy, and the boat may travel at close to 30 knots in suitable conditions.

Checking in at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

The tour begins at the Special Tours ticket office at Ægisgarður 5 in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. If you add hotel pickup, a transfer takes you to the harbour and returns you afterward. Without that option, you make your own way to the meeting point.

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. That half hour is used for check-in, changing into the supplied gear, and hearing the safety instructions. It is not a good tour to reach at the last minute, especially if you need to find the office or change clothes.

The changing area can feel cramped when several departures are preparing at once. One useful practical detail is that the equipment area may be in a nearby hut rather than the first building you enter, so follow staff directions carefully.

You receive warm overalls, a life jacket, gloves, and goggles. Wear warm layers underneath, along with sturdy shoes. The overalls help block wind and spray, while the goggles are useful once the boat picks up speed.

A safety briefing comes before boarding. The crew explains how to use the equipment and what to expect on the water. If you have a bad back, heart condition, joint problems, or limited mobility, pay close attention to the ride description before booking. Getting into the RIB also requires a moderate level of physical fitness.

Racing across Faxaflói Bay toward the whales

Once everyone is seated, the RIB leaves the Old Harbour and heads out across Faxaflói Bay. The early part of the journey is already scenic, with Reykjavik behind you and the broad outline of Esja mountain across the water.

The boat’s speed is one of the strongest reasons to choose this version of whale watching. You are not spending the entire two hours in transit. The captain can cover ground and take the group toward areas where whales and dolphins are feeding.

This is also the part that some people find most thrilling. The RIB rises and falls with the water, and the ride can feel like a roller coaster when conditions are rough. One practical point is worth taking seriously: the sea may feel much rougher once you are away from the harbour than it did from shore.

In calmer conditions, the suspension seats help make the trip more comfortable. In larger swells, you can still be thrown upward and come down hard. One person described serious back pain after a rough ride, and others found the bouncing exciting. That contrast tells you exactly what kind of outing this is: fun for the right body and mood, but not a soft adventure.

The crew’s handling matters here. The best accounts of the trip describe captains who adjusted their approach to the conditions and guides who helped nervous passengers feel more at ease. The crew has included guides such as Blanca and Jonathan, with captains including Yoda. Names and crew assignments can change, but the guide’s role is central because the animals may appear for only a few seconds.

Searching for humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, and porpoises

The main search focuses on four animals: humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises. Humpbacks tend to create the most dramatic moments. You might see a blow, a curved back, or the raised tail fluke before the whale disappears again.

A humpback may surface several times in one area, allowing the captain to follow its movements from a respectful distance. Some trips have included long looks at two or three humpbacks, including a mother and calf. Those moments are memorable precisely because they are not guaranteed or scripted.

Minke whales can be harder to track. Their appearances may be brief, so you need to watch the water rather than stare only at the horizon. Dolphins can provide a different kind of action. A pod may swim beside the boat, and white-beaked dolphins can be lively and quick near the surface.

Porpoises are smaller and less conspicuous. Seeing one often requires patience and a sharp eye. Your guide helps by pointing out blows, fins, and movement patterns, while explaining the animals and the bay in English.

The small group helps here. With a maximum of 12 people, the guide can speak directly to you instead of addressing a crowd spread across several decks. You also have a better chance of hearing instructions and seeing where the guide is pointing.

Still, keep your expectations grounded. You may see several whales, dolphins, and porpoises. You may see only one whale briefly. You may see no whales at all. The operator offers a complimentary return ticket for another whale-watching outing if there are no sightings, but that cannot replace a missed day if your Iceland schedule is tight.

The summer stop at Akurey’s puffin colony

During the summer nesting season, the RIB stops near Akurey, one of the area’s best-known puffin islands. This adds welcome variety to a whale tour, especially if the larger animals are keeping their distance.

Puffins are small, fast-moving birds. From a boat, you may see them gathered around the island or running across the surface as they take off. Do not expect a close walk among the birds. The boat keeps a respectful distance, and binoculars or a good camera zoom would help.

The stop also gives you a short change of pace after the high-speed ride. You can look toward the nesting island, watch seabirds, and take in the open bay. Puffins are present during the nesting season, so this part is seasonal rather than a year-round feature.

Some people may find the puffins distant, particularly in choppy water. I would treat Akurey as a bonus rather than the main reason to book. The whale search remains the heart of the outing.

Returning along the Reykjavik coastline

The trip back gives you a different view of the city. Instead of looking out toward open water, you see Reykjavik’s coastline and the harbour approach. Keep your camera ready, but protect it from spray and wind.

The return can be just as lively as the outward run. If the water has become rough, you may feel every rise and landing in the boat. If conditions are calm, the ride can be fast and surprisingly comfortable in the shock-absorbing seats.

With the optional hotel transfer, a drop-off bus waits at the Old Harbour. Without that option, the activity ends where it began, at the harbour meeting point. The tour lasts about two hours, though you should allow extra time for check-in, changing, and the return process.

Is $189.87 a fair price?

At $189.87 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for whales in Reykjavik. You are paying for a small group, a purpose-built RIB, supplied protective gear, a fast route to the feeding grounds, and a more active experience than a standard boat trip.

The value depends on what you want. If your priority is the lowest price or the calmest possible ride, a larger vessel may make more sense. If you want a fast boat, close views of the water, and a group capped at 12, the added cost is easier to justify.

The free return offer also improves the value when wildlife does not appear. It does not guarantee a whale on the second attempt, but it gives you another chance without paying again for the basic outing. Schedule the tour early enough in your Iceland stay to use that option if needed.

Hotel pickup costs extra. Since the meeting point is in the Old Harbour and near public transportation, you may not need the transfer if you are staying in central Reykjavik. Pickup becomes more useful if you are staying farther out or prefer not to manage transport before an early departure.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend this tour to people who enjoy active outings and do not mind a little physical challenge. It suits couples, small groups, and older children who meet the height and age requirements and are comfortable with speed and movement.

The published guidance says the tour is not recommended for children under 10 or anyone under 145 centimetres. The operator has also advised against it for people who are pregnant or have back problems. Those limits make sense given the boat’s seating and the possibility of hard impacts in rough water.

The trip can work well for families with older children. The combination of dolphins, whales, puffins, and a fast ride gives children plenty to watch. Still, do not book it simply because a child likes boats. Ask yourself if they can sit safely, follow instructions, and manage a bouncy ride for two hours.

If you want a calm, quiet wildlife experience, choose another format. If you like speed and accept that nature may provide only quick glimpses, this RIB is a strong choice.

Practical ways to get more from the two hours

Arrive early, wear warm layers, and use the supplied goggles. Iceland’s wind can feel sharp even on a sunny day, and the boat’s speed makes cold air more noticeable.

Keep your camera secure. You may want photos of Esja, the coastline, puffins, or a whale’s tail, but the boat moves quickly and spray is possible. Do not spend the whole trip looking through a screen. Wildlife often surfaces without warning.

Watch the water in front of and beside the boat. A guide may point toward a blow or fin, but your own view improves when you scan steadily instead of waiting for a dramatic breach.

If you are prone to motion sickness, consider the conditions carefully. The tour does not promise calm water, and the RIB can bounce. The crew supplies safety equipment and warm clothing, but those items cannot prevent seasickness or back strain.

Most important, build flexibility into your schedule. The tour requires suitable weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather cancels it, you can receive a different date or a full refund. If you cancel, you must do so at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund. A same-day cancellation or change is not accepted.

Should you book the Reykjavik RIB whale tour?

Book it if you want the most exciting version of whale watching in Reykjavik, value a small group, and can handle a fast, sometimes bumpy ride. The combination of quick access to Faxaflói Bay, suspension seats, warm gear, expert English guidance, and the possible Akurey puffin stop gives the outing plenty of substance beyond a simple boat ride.

Skip it if you have back or mobility concerns, dislike rough water, or mainly want a quiet cruise. Wildlife remains unpredictable, even with a skilled captain. For everyone else, the RIB offers a strong chance at memorable whale and dolphin encounters, with a free return option that softens the risk of an empty search.

FAQ

Where does the whale-watching tour start?

The tour starts at Ægisgarður 5 in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, at the Special Tours ticket office.

How long does the tour last?

The boat trip lasts approximately two hours.

What animals might I see?

The search focuses on humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises.

Are whale sightings guaranteed?

No. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. If you see no wildlife, you receive a complimentary ticket to try again on a Whale Watching Classic or Whale Watching Express tour.

Does the tour visit a puffin island?

During the summer nesting season, the boat visits Akurey, a popular puffin nesting island.

What clothing and safety equipment are included?

The tour provides warm overalls, life jackets, gloves, goggles, and other necessary safety equipment.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is not included in the base experience. It can be added for an additional fee.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Is the tour suitable for young children?

The tour is not recommended for children under 10 or anyone under 145 centimetres.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the cancellation.